Apparatus for simultaneous grinding and froth flotation

An apparatusfor simultaneous grinding and froth flotation of at least one crude mineral and/or pigment, comprising

• a) a vessel (1) suitable for containing grinding media (2), a flotation gas, a collector agent and at least one crude mineral and/or pigment;
• b) an agitation unit (3) rotatably mounted in vessel (1);
• c) drive means (4) connected to agitation unit (3) for agitating the grinding media (2) and the at least one crude mineral and/or pigment to grind the at least one crude mineral and/or pigment into at least one ground mineral and/or pigment;
• d) a charge system (5) connected to vessel (1) comprising
• i. a crude mineral and/or pigment feed (5a),
• ii. a collector agent feed (5b), and
• iii. a flotation gas inlet (5c);
• e) a discharge system (6) connected to vessel (1) comprising
• i. a sieve (6a) suitable for separating froth from the ground mineral and/or pigment, and suitable for preventing the grinding media from being discharged with the ground mineral and/or pigment,
• ii. a product collecting zone (6b) suitable for collecting the ground mineral and/or pigment,
• iii. a froth collecting zone (6c) and
• iv. a froth redirecting element (6d) having a conical structure affixed to and around a circumference of the stirring shaft of the agitation unit, wherein said froth redirecting element is arranged above the sieve (6a).